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Post by Jkang on Sept 26, 2004 14:55:18 GMT -5
i’m to buy some extra 3pound barrels for my lortone tumblers. Lortones barrels cost about $20 . Are Chicago Electric tumbler 3# barrels just the same barrels as the Lortone’s barrels? Some sellers at ebay advertise them as using the same barrels as the Lortones. I could get my new barrels plus a new tumbler for about the same price of buying the lortone barrels alone. Opinions please
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Post by krazydiamond on Sept 26, 2004 15:50:28 GMT -5
they are similar but not exactly alike. i have, for brief periods, put my CE barrels on the Lortone while i was repairing the CE unit, etc. but i don't think i'd use a CE barrel permanently on a Lortone tumbler. i have read some where where the CE barrels would work on the Lortone base but not vice versa. the nut on the Lortones is different as is the guide mechanism.....
KD
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WarrenA
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since November 2003
Posts: 1,530
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Post by WarrenA on Sept 26, 2004 22:39:21 GMT -5
the barrel for the c/e tumbler that I had was smooth on the inside. my 6 lb lortone barrels have flat spots molded on the inside I am not sure if the 3 lb lortone barrels have the same flat spots in them the lortone barrels that I have seem to be a lot more heavy duty. Has anyone ever worn out a lortone barrel?
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MoonStone
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since August 2004
Posts: 202
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Post by MoonStone on Sept 27, 2004 0:32:55 GMT -5
I have no experience with the Chicago tumblers, but if you could actually get everything for the same price as 2 lortone barrels, go for it!
I remember they had some postings in here about the Chicago brand, they don't seem to be as reliable as the lortones (belts broke frequently) but at that low price I think they could be woth a try. Humm...I'm being tempted to order one and just tamper with it. He-he-he ;D
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Post by Feanor on Sept 27, 2004 5:46:40 GMT -5
Hi. We have a CE 3 lb tumbler and a Lortone 3 lb tumbler. The CE barrels are every bit as good as the Lortone barrels. The Lortone barrels are just a tiny bit taller than the CE barrels and will not fit on the CE base but the CE barrels work fine on the Lortone base. If we ever need more 3 lb barrels we will buy more Chicago Electric units and save the bases for spare parts. (I have read about some people having reliability problems with CE tumblers but we have had no problems after a year of almost continuous use.)
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llanago
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2004
Posts: 1,714
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Post by llanago on Sept 27, 2004 8:23:26 GMT -5
I have a CE tumbler. I used it 24/7 for about 7 months before it bit the dust, but it wasn't a serious bite the dust thing. The little plastic part behind the fan that holds the belt broke. It could easily be fixed if I could find someplace to get parts. So, KD, or anyone, if you have info on where to get replacement parts, please let me know. I also thought of ordering more CE barrels instead of buying Lortones, but, alas, don't know where to order them.
I'd love to get this little tumbler up and going again.
llana
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MoonStone
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since August 2004
Posts: 202
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Post by MoonStone on Sept 27, 2004 9:04:27 GMT -5
Hello!;D I'm very happy to hear that they are good, I just ordered a 2 barrel Chicago tumbler for just $29.99!!! By the way...By planning to "tamper" with the Chicagos I ment no harm to the cute tumblers :-), I just like to experiment with things to see if they could be improved. I did that with my current lortone tumbler and it is running cool. I will add some cooling to this one as well & compare the pieces between the Lortones & Chicago to see if they are actually compatible, or could be made compatible, also it will be used for my coarse step, I have a lot of rough rocks.:-) Have to go to work..............Till next wekend............. bye! :-) P.S. I bought the Chicago at Harbor Freight Tools: www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=90979I did not see any any replacement parts in there. Yes it will be good to know where to buy the spare parts for the Chicagos....
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Post by krazydiamond on Sept 27, 2004 10:58:09 GMT -5
for CE replacement parts call:
1-800-444-3353
sometimes it takes a while to talk to a real person. it helps if you know what part number you need (from the operating instructions booklet" and sometimes they ask for the serail number of the unit (on the bottom). i've replaces the little white fan piece/belt pulley on one unit, too along with several belts. but they are cheap enough,
KD
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llanago
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2004
Posts: 1,714
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Post by llanago on Oct 1, 2004 23:31:46 GMT -5
One thing I learned about my CE was that I could not overload it. If I got mine an ounce over 3 lbs. it would drag and barely turn - not good for the motor! As soon as I got the weight down to exactly 3 bls., it ran like a charm til the little fan thingy broke.
Thanks, KD, for the number to call for parts.
llana
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Tellfamily
spending too much on rocks
Member since September 2004
Posts: 476
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Post by Tellfamily on Oct 2, 2004 0:47:05 GMT -5
I have not had my C/E 6lb tumbler for long, but it has been running 24/7 for almost a month with only one problem.
The factory belt has a lot of stretch in it. I purchased a replacement belt (a large O-ring) on E-bay and it has been great.
I have noticed that the replacement belt is the exact size as a Thumbler's Tumbler o-ring for the 3lb barrel lid. Almost no stretch and even cheaper than the C/E replacement belt.
You can go online on Harbor Freight's web site and order a new 6lb tumber for under $30. Not too bad for a knock off tumbler.
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AgateHunter
starting to spend too much on rocks
LAKE SUPERIOR AGATE Minnesota State Gemstone
Member since September 2004
Posts: 107
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Post by AgateHunter on Oct 2, 2004 22:26:38 GMT -5
I have a double 3 lbs tumbler. Has any noticed there knurled nuts rubbing in the top of the frame? It seem that they could have given the knurled nuts and frame a little more clearance.
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MoonStone
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since August 2004
Posts: 202
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Post by MoonStone on Oct 3, 2004 2:07:27 GMT -5
I ordered one like yours but I'm still waiting for it to arrive. When I get mine I will see if that problem could be solved, and will post the results.
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AgateHunter
starting to spend too much on rocks
LAKE SUPERIOR AGATE Minnesota State Gemstone
Member since September 2004
Posts: 107
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Post by AgateHunter on Oct 4, 2004 20:25:52 GMT -5
MoonStone, I got my CE tumbler from Harbor Freight Tools also. It took 2 weeks for it to arrive here in Minnesota by UPS ground. I think pony express would have been quicker. ;D
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terry
off to a rocking start
Member since August 2008
Posts: 2
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Post by terry on Oct 6, 2004 15:54:59 GMT -5
the barrels on the c/e tumbler and the lortone are the same go for it . Its a good buy
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Post by terry on Oct 6, 2004 16:03:38 GMT -5
Hi I have a lortone 33b and i just bought a c/e tumbler on 10/05/04 the ce tumbler and the lortone motors belts and pullys are the same so lortone parts should fit
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Post by Cher on Oct 6, 2004 18:11:39 GMT -5
I've got a Lortone 33B (2-3 lb barrels) and a 3 lb CE. Last night my hubby notice that the CE barrel was rolling faster than the ones on the Lortone. I tried the Lortone barrel in the CE and it fit perfectly ... except for the nut on the Lortone lid. It rode right on the edge of the frame of the CE. If it was narrower like the nuts on the CE it would have been fine. Anyway, I changed the barrels last night so my rough goes into the CE. Figured faster tumbling = faster shaping so it's worth a shot. [glow=red,2,300] ~ Cher ~[/glow] pages.prodigy.net/bestsmileys1/signs/RockOn.gif [/img]
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69beeper
spending too much on rocks
Member since August 2004
Posts: 377
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Post by 69beeper on Oct 6, 2004 20:31:24 GMT -5
curious.. how much faster do the barrels roll on your CE? How many revolutions per minute?
I noticed one of my 33B's rolls the barrels at 50 rpm and the other rolls them at 42 rpm. They seem to stay pretty steady at it. I even swapped barrels/loads between the two and still come up with the same results on each tumbler.
Jimmy
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Post by Cher on Oct 6, 2004 21:02:46 GMT -5
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69beeper
spending too much on rocks
Member since August 2004
Posts: 377
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Post by 69beeper on Oct 6, 2004 21:43:55 GMT -5
...yep, that's exactly what I done.
Jimmy
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Pdwight
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2003
Posts: 619
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Post by Pdwight on Oct 6, 2004 23:19:42 GMT -5
I got a Chicago Tumbler a little over a year ago and wore out the piece of crap motor in 3 months. Now I was able to order a motor from the rockshed for the lortone wihich was a much higher quality for around 15 vbucks and replace it..it works like a champ now and is very quiet and smooth. The factory motor has cheesy plastic bushings that distort quickly....the lortone motor had nice bronze oil impregnated bearnings that should last a long time.
Dwight P
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